Week 3

Question 1

Darwins theory of natural selection

Answer 1

-All species can (or will) produce far more offspring than can survive
-All species have variations
-Competition for resources means that some of these variations can be advantageous.
-Individuals with the advantageous variation would naturally produce more offspring so these advantageous variations are likely to be passed on
-Over time, the accumulation of advantageous variations within a population could lead to the evolution of a new species

Question 2

punctuated equilibrium

Answer 2

his theory proposes that major evolutionary developments often occur relatively quickly in geological terms, followed by extended periods of little to no noticeable change.

• Transition from austropithecus to homo habilis

Question 3

Gradualism model

Answer 3

The theory that evolution is a long slow process
-Homo erectus fossils show evidence of gradualism change

Question 4

adaptive radiation

Answer 4

Process in which one species occupies a new ecological niche, quickly increasing its population and diversifying into a new species.
Species is able to adapt quickly to one or more ecological niches

Question 5

Gene flow

Answer 5

movement of genes between populations that are members of the same species but that do not normally mate with one another

Question 6

Speciation

Answer 6

Formation of new species
-Development of the Congo river created the separation of the common ancestor of chimps and bonobos, that created those two species.
Species- a population of individuals that can
mateand produce fertile offspring in the wild
DONKEY

Question 7

Dating by Association

Answer 7

If two things are found in the same stratigraphic layer, and the antiquity of one object is already known, then the other object is likely the same age.

Question 8

radiocarbon dating

Answer 8

Measuring how much carbon 14 is preserved in organic remains.
-Best for sites less than 50k years old

Question 9

potassium-argon dating

Answer 9

Measuring the rate of change of potassium changing to argon
- Best for sites over 200,000 years old

Question 10

Specific Skeletal changes that allowed for bipedalism

Answer 10

-Repositioning of foramen magnum at skull base
-Changes to the vertebral column
-Changes to the pelvis (widening, basin shape, weight distribution)
-Lenghtening of femur
-Modifications to the knee
-Angling of the femur inward
-Changes in the foot ( arch, realignment of big toe)